1:00 a.m. Monday, June 14, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is another day closer to July and the sweetest little angel this side of heaven. I have just finished ironing a few things. Mostly were clothes.
That was sure a wonderful telephone conversation. My blood is still pounding from just hearing your voice again and the thought of you being out here in four weeks. I’ll be able to hold you in my arms and kiss and caress you again. I can look into your eyes and can tell you that I love you. I can kiss your lips, your cheek and your neck. I can try again to squeeze you right through me. We can go out and park for hours and hours and hours. We will be dancing, laughing and loving again (Whew!!) (Oh Boy!!)
I didn’t do very much today. I got up, ate breakfast, finished your letter, I heard if you close, went down to the Y and had a little workout and a swim, came by the jewelry shop and your bracelet, came home and ironed a few more clothes. I then went upstairs and made a call that I have been planning on making all day, then came back down to my room and ironed some more and now I’m writing to my one and only.
Well Sweets, I guess I will trot off to bed. I sure wish we were married now. I had a theme that and a swim at the Y and I sure smelled nice and clean and fresh. The wind is blowing and the fog makes the hair damp. My body is so nice and warm. I sure love you a lot. Good night Sweetheart.(Good night Little Angel)
Good morning Darlin’:
it sure is a beautiful morning here. I have your Special answer. I’ll skip the first part I’ll rub your back all of you want me to when you get out here. Those golden gates have been open for a long time for you. You will find more than heaven behind them.
All that is all the questions I had to answer.
I have to drop above the line so I guess I had better close for now. I will write again after work and I will see you at 8.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F H Harlan
I love you very very much
Monday 10:00 AM June 14, 1943
Hi Honey:
I’m sorry I didn’t write last night after you called but was too tired. Gee, I’m so glad you called. I hated to call you and reverse the charges. You saved me a lot of embarrassment. Thanks again. It was a swell conversation too. So grand to hear your voice. I knew it was you a minute the phone rang. I love you Honey.
There isn’t much news this morning, it’s another beautiful day and as I been up since 8:00 to take Daddie to work. I’m going out in the backyard and lay in the sun. Last night on the way home from work the mood was so big and bright and there were white soft clouds rippled through the sky. Jeepers, I sure did miss you.
Today is my day off so tonight Yodie and I are going downtown for a little while. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you last night that your Special came Sunday morning about 11:00, so your plan worked swell. I like for them to come before I go to work on the ship. Thanks a lot.
Gee Honey, there simply isn’t any news and I am very sleepy. Oh please Hon, may I be excused? Oh please, Oh O.K. thanks a lot, and thanks again for calling me. I appreciate it very much. Bye for now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
PS I love you
Monday 5:00 PM June 14
Hello Honey:
Well here I am again, but as I’m going downtown very shortly, I thought I would drop a line and take it down. Daddie and I went to the depot and I made my reservation. Now don’t get excited Honey but I bought a bit round trip ticket. And the reason I did was because Daddie wanted me to come first-class and well it’s kind of hard to explain but by buying a round-trip ticket I saved $30 and I don’t have to use the return ticket for 90 days after I arrived there. I’m taking the San Francisco Overland Limited greeted I’m leaving at 3:00 AM Monday morning, the 12th of July and will arrive there Wednesday morning 9:30 the 14th. Now that isn’t for sure, because he has to wire somewhere, don’t know where and see about the reservation. He said he would call me as soon as he found out. The round trip ticket cost $135.00, that includes my birth both ways. This train is 10 hours faster than the Challenger and it is an all Pullman train, no coaches. I have $125 cash on hand and can save $40 in the next week but have to pay for my ticket two weeks before I leave?? If worse comes to worse, I can cash in my last bond.
Harlan, I have another question to ask you. Should I tell your folks I’m coming out and if so, should I tell them now or wait a week or so. I can’t wait until the last minute because she will know I had to make a reservation. That sounds kind of silly because I’m sure there isn’t any reason why I shouldn’t tell them but I thought I’d better ask.
Well Hon, got a letter today, short but sweet. I can hardly wait to see which you have made me.
Better close now as have to meet Yodie be at 6:00. I love you Honey and there is no backing down now. I’m coming. Bye for now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
9:00 AM June 15, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July and the sweetest little girl there ever was. I didn’t write last night because I was just dead. I received a letter from you yesterday but there are no questions to answer. I took your bracelet to the post office with me yesterday but there was a line about a mile long and I had to get to work. I have to go downtown this morning, so I will mail it then.
I haven’t heard from Dick, so I guess he must have been sent across.
It’s a beautiful morning out. I hope it is like this when you get here.
I haven’t any news so I don’t know what else to write about.
I sure have a bunch of bills to pay now. My income tax, my room rent for a month, my milk bill for a month. I have to get new a sleeve on my jacket, a new rod pocket on my overalls, a new pair of welding gloves and my union dues. It seems that they all come at once.. I had $537 in my checking account.I paid my income tax, now it is $477. After I get everything else paid, I will probably have about $400.
Well Sweets, I guess I had better brush my teeth and get to work. I love you very very much, I adore you, I miss you, I want you – near me.
See you at 8.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F H Harlan
Tuesday 6:45 PM June 15, 1943
Hi Honey:
The time? Well I’m a bad girl today Honey, I didn’t go to work. Mariam and Marge called at 2:30 and said they were going and when they don’t go it means I have to do three girls work. Please forgive me Harlan but I was too tired and didn’t think you would mind too much.
Your Mom called this morning, she is just fine but said something about not hearing from you for some time. Harlan are you mad at them about something?
There was a letter this morning – sweet. What do you mean, you want your clothes done by someone that is really good. That sure takes a lot of nerve. You big lug, just who do you think you are?
It’s a beautiful day here, nice and sunny. Four weeks from today I will be more than halfway to Frisco, really railing along. Jeepers Honey, I get a thrill just thinking about it. I love you and just think I’m really coming out to see you. Oh happy, happy day.
“Lights Out” is on. Hon, remember how we used to listen to it? So Do I. It sure seems funny to be home in the evening. I think I will catch up on my letter writing tonight, O.K? O.K!
Well look Harlan, there isn’t any more news right now. I think I’ll finish this later. O.K? O.K! Bye for now.
10:00 Hello Honey:
Yup I’m back and it’s 10:00 so you should be thinking of me, Yes? After I finished the upper, I wrote Donna, Chuck, and Aunt Jenny. Then I drove over to “The Fiesta”, bought four hamburgers, then to the AC Ice Cream shop and bought three sundaes, chocolate with marshmallow topping, and came home and we ate them. Good? You bet.
Then I forgot to buy a magazine, so I washed walked up to the drugstore got my magazine, then came home and listen to the Chesterfield Hour, in fact it’s still on. That brings us up to here. Now I’m going upstairs take a bath and read untill I’m sleepy, then asleep, so’s maybe I can dream of you. Soo, good night Honey. I love you so much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
Fun Fact: Lights Out was a radio program they listened too many times before Dad left for California. It was one of the earliest radio horror programs. It was created by Wyllis Huber and aired on different networks at different times from January 1934 into the summer in 1947. Here’s a sample of the show, which you can listen too. Many are available on the internet. “Lights out radio show 1943 06 29 Bathysphere Old Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz_DcK8nybI)
1:00 AM Wednesday, June 16, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July and you. The night is absolutely beautiful out. It is warm, clear and not in the least bit windy. I will sure be glad when you get here.
I didn’t get a letter today so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. I had a very hot job tonight so I feel pretty tired. I haven’t heard from my draft word yet, so I’m still in the dark. Oh I wish July would hurry up a little bit.
I sent your bracelet on the way to work today. I guess I’m so tired I can’t think of anything to say. So I guess I had better get to bed and dream of you. I will be glad when these dreams are real. I love you so much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Little Angel:
It is a beautiful warm sunny morning. I wish you were here now. I hope we have some weather like this in July. The radio is playing “I’m so in love with you”.
When you come out, bring your ration books and hope have your mother teach you how to make those baked beans and brown bread. You can also bring your riding britches.
Darling have you heard this song “All or Nothing At All? Frank Sinatra sings it with Harry James band (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAN_jLnD_Q8). It sure is a good one. The radio is playing “That Old Black Magic”.
Darling, I can’t seem to think of anything to write about so I guess I had better close for now. I will see you at 8. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F H Harlan
Wednesday night June 16, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well how are you today? Fine and dandy, I hope. Personally, I’m pooed out and that’s putting it mildly. Two girls were at absent, so I really worked, so do you mind terribly if I only make this a note? There isn’t much news anyway.
Oh Harlan, it’s a beautiful night out, stars, and stars, and stars and the moon, just like this…
big and beautiful and full and just waiting and watching for a couple lovers like us.
Marian called her boyfriend Wes yesterday and he will be home in three weeks. It’s kind of funny how much we have in common. He was home the first week in January too and now. I’m going to see you and she is going to see Wes. We are both walking on clouds, pink ones.
Well Sweets, I can hardly hold my eyes open so please honey. Thanks I love you and you alone. Good night Honey.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
PS I will write a long one tomorrow to make up for this. Love always Jane
1:00 AM June 17, 1943 Wednesday
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July and you. I got a letter from you today. It was kind of shorts though. There aren’t any questions in it so again I don’t know what to write about.
Today was the hottest day we’ve had this year. It was 89° in the shade. The air is so that damp you notice the heat a lot more. Hook and I went into the boiler room to weld collars under the main deck. I welded half a collar and when I was through my legs just went out from underneath me and I almost all off the stool I was standing on. It took me about 15 minutes to weld that half a collar and when I was through or before I almost passed out, my clothes were just wringing wet. Hook got so hot that he started to shake all over and there was one fellow off of us that completely passed out. He was doing the same kind of work that we were. Lang came up and said he had a cooler job for us, so we went down there and stayed the rest of the night. I think I drank enough water to float one of these destroyers right out in the Bay.
I got my bonus slips for the last week. I made $28.27 in bonuses, which is darn good if I do say so myself.
I sure hope tomorrow isn’t as hot as it was today. Tonight is nice and cool. There are no clouds and the moon and stars are bright. You are there and I am here. It’s terrible isn’t it.
Well Sweets, I guess I will get a bite to eat and then go to bed. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Little Angel.
Good morning Darlin’: It’s a beautiful day out. I sure wish you were here. Just three weeks and six days from today you will be here. Oh what a time we are going to have.
I have some work to do on Herman before you get here. I have to fix the brakes and get a new floormat.
Well Sweets I guess I had better close for now. I will write again tonight. See you at 8. I love you very very much. Harry James and Frank Sinatra are playing ‘All or Nothing at All”.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F H Harlan
PS I love you
2:15 PM Thursday, June 17, 1943
Hi Hon:
Your letter and bracelet came this morning. Jeepers Honey, do I ever like the bracelet. Did you really make it, boy you did yourself proud. It’s so darn good looking. I had to squeeze it together just a little bit, and now it fits perfect. I can hardly wait to show the kids at the plant. How did you make those little impressions in the triangles? Thanks an awful lot Harlan, it was very nice of you and I love it. The ‘H’ is even made like you make them.
I just got back from the store. I bought a card for your Dad but don’t know their address, just tried to call your Mom and she isn’t home. Which reminds me, Dad received your card today. It was a honey Harlan, you sure are doing yourself proud honey. It was very nice of you dad says, when he saw my bracelet, “is that what he does, makes bracelets for $80 or $90 a week?” He was kidding, as you should know Dad by Well Honey, it’s 2:30 sooo I had better get ready for work. I started this now so I can make it longer tonight. O.K? O.K! Thanks again for the bracelet. I really think it’s swell. I love you Harlan, you’re grand. Bye for now. See you at 10.
1:00 AM Friday morning
Hello again; I’m home from work and have read my evenings story and am writing to you before I put my hair up and bathe. O.K? How are you? It’s 11:00 out there and in half an hour you’ll be off too. The “Swing Shift” is on. Harry James (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJR_whA2nok) “The Trumpet Rhapsody”, pretty.
Gee Darling, it’s another beautiful night, cool but clean, not a cloud in the sky. Moon is like this again.
At 10:00, I went out doors and looked at the Big Dipper and thought especially of you. By the way, I sure received a lot of compliments on my bracelet and when I told one of the fellows that you made it, he was surprised. He thought it was swell. It sure is good looking. Marian thought it was perfect.
Well Sweets, I sure wish we were together tonight. So I’m so anxious to see you. You’re so swell and I’m a very lucky girl. Every day I realize it more and more. There are so many things I have to tell you. I love you very much. Night Honey.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
12:35 AM June 18, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Just 3 more weeks and 5 more days and will be together again. It is Thursday night and it is time to write your Special. I’m glad the one I wrote last week that there Sunday morning. I’m sure glad you made your reservations. About cashing in that bond, don’t do it. If you need a little money please let me know. Those bonds of you ours aren’t ours yet. They belong to T and T. Remember? If I were you, I would tell my folks that you are coming out, but don’t tell them that I know it. I don’t see why you shouldn’t tell them. Is there any reason why you don’t want to tell them? (Please answer.) There had better be no backing down now. Well that is all of questions in your letter that I have to answer.
The weather today is hot but not as hot as it was yesterday. I had a nice job tonight after supper. I worked under the ship in the fresh air. I was sitting right over the Bay. To the north the me was the Bay Bridge, and to the Northwest were the tall buildings of S. F., and to the east of me was Oakland, the mountains behind Oakland and beyond the mountains – you. The sky is very clear tonight over S. F. The moon is so bright it is, just about as bright as day. The Moon is so bright you can see the fog rolling in over the suburbs and also over south San Francisco. I don’t feel very tired tonight. If you were here, I could take a shower and put some clean clothes on and we could go down and bowl a couple of games and then go out and park a while, quite a while. Then we could come home, get a bite to eat and then – then I would kiss you good night, and tell you that I love you and we would go to our own two rooms and go to bed. Which reminds me that I had better get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Little Angel.
Good morning Darlin’: Well it’s a cloudy, cold day today. I would it would be nice day to play some golf, in fact I would be swell day to do anything with you. I have just finished eating breakfast and I did some ironing with the mangle. I can really use the mangle pretty good.
Darling, the mail just came. I got a letter from you. I also got a card from my draft word, telling me my classification. Yes, I forgive you for not going to work, I mean that. If you don’t want to wash my clothes for me, I don’t care because I do pretty good job myself. I’ll even wash yours and you’ll really see some good laundry work. Yes, I remember “Lights Out”, I haven’t heard any radio programs at night since Christmas. Well that’s about all the questions I had to answer in your letter.
How are your folks? Have you heard where Chuck was sent? If you have, you haven’t told me. I asked you some time ago. See, you don’t always answer all of my questions.
Darling, do you think I’ll look nice in a soldier’s uniform? I sure hope so. My classification is 1-A. I guess I had better drop the folks a line. I guess I will send a few clothes home now.
I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F S H Harlan (your future soldier husband)
Saturday 2:00 AM June 19, 1943
Good morning Honey: Hi:
Well here it is another week closer to you. Three weeks from the time you get this all really be going around in circles. Oh happy happy three weeks from today. My foreman, Howard, called me in the office tonight and told me that he was almost sure I could get three weeks off but he didn’t know about a month but that I could try, so that made me feel pretty good.
Yes, I know it’s late later than usual but you see Don and I stopped at the ‘Triangle Tap’ got our checks cashed and it was simply packed so we had to wait. You see, don’t you?
By the way Mr. Berhow, I didn’t get a letter today. Now Mr. Berhow this is the first time in 2 1/2 weeks that I haven’t received one. Tisk tisk, but then I shouldn’t complain, huh.
It’s another one of those beautiful night. Oh jeepers Honey, could I go for some smooching? You’ll never know.
Well Sweets, it’s rather late and I have to get up early and wash my hair and then go downtown and buy Daddie a present. I love you honey. I love you very much and miss you so very much. I think it’s high time I saw you, right? O.K!. I’ll be leaving in three weeks, 21 days. Good night fiancé. I love you.
9:30 A.M.
Good morning Honey: I’m off and waiting for the water to get hot in the tank. It’s sure a beautiful day, simply swell, not too hot either, gosh it’s early. I never got up until 11:00 anymore. I’m so tired, but had to wash my hair as I am going out on wing ding Tuesday night with the girls. They are taking me out because of my trip. None of them think I’m coming home. Well Honey, it’s hot now. Be back as soon as I get my hair washed.
There I’m all through and I’m out in the backyard. Gee the Sun is so nice and warm. Gosh Harlan, there isn’t any news. Everyone is just fine and everything is just the same, haven’t talked to your Mom for a couple of days. Will call her Monday.
Well Honey, I’m sorry but there simply isn’t anything to write about except how much I love you and if I tell you that, you are apt to take me for granted, only kidding. Oh gosh, here comes the mailman. I love you very very much Harlan and will see you soon.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
PS did you get the things I sent you?
1:30 AM Saturday, June 19, 1943
Hello Darlin;:
Well just 3 more weeks and 4 days and will be together again. I can hardly wait till you get here. I’m very tired tonight, so will you please excuse me until in the morning? I love you very very much. Good night my Little Angel.
Good morning Sweetheart: It is cloudy and windy with a little sun now and then. The mail came and there is a box of cookies from you for me. (The radio is playing “I’m So in Love With You”). Thanks a lot, they are sure swell. They are nice and soft just like if they were just baked.
There was a letter too, so now I will answer your questions. The night have been very beautiful here lately too. If you had been here last night, we could have walked up to the park not far from here and cuddled up close on the park bench. I could put my topcoat on and you could put your Keanu coat on and you would probably be busy all of the time we were there trying to keep me from unbuttoning your coat.
Well Sweets, if you don’t mind I guess I had better close. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxs Y F H Harlan
11:00 AM Sunday, June 20, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well 3 weeks from today you will be all ready to leave. Oh boy! Now, I sure hope nothing goes wrong.
I didn’t write last night because we had a blackout. There was a squadron of unidentified planes approaching San Francisco but they turned out to be friendly. There was a Japanese radio communiqué that said that Japan was going to bomb San Francisco the 20th of June, which was today.
I think I will go out and play a little golf today. It is a beautiful day out. I sure wish you were here. Three weeks and 3 days isn’t very long now, is it?
Well Darlin’, I think I will close and go out and play some golf. When I get back your Special should be here then I will have something to answer. Okay? Okay. I love you very much.
Hello Sweetheart: Well I’m back from playing golf. I had a very good game. I hope I play as well when you come out. Your Special isn’t here, so I still have nothing to answer. Now I don’t know what to write about. I think I will go downtown and get dinner and maybe go to a show. I will write you a long letter tonight when I get home. I love you more than you’ll ever know.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Harlan
Sunday 2:00 PM June 20, 1943
Hi Honey:
How are you? Fine, I hope. It’s a nice sunny day here, but kind of dull. Your Special was here last night when I came home from work. It was postmarked S.F. June 18. How come you mailed it on Friday? The one you wrote last week was written Friday night after work and mailed Saturday on your way to work and arrived here before I went to work.
Well I’m terribly sorry Honey but I did cash in one of my bonds. I had to. I’ll try to make it up later.
Gosh if I’m to tell your folks I’m coming, I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell them that you know it. Personally, I would feel foolish telling them that when I talk to your mom Wednesday. If I remember I’ll tell her but don’t say anything because maybe I won’t.
I’m kind of tired today. When I came home last night, I didn’t feel very good or couldn’t go to sleep. Then Momie called me early this morning telling me Daddie was sick. You remember that last spell he had with his heart? Well he had another one this morning, only it was worse. Momie was skeared to death, but the doctor prescribed some medicine and he is feeling pretty good now.
After you get settled down and sleep, I wash the car, I got to drive to work today as it is Don’s week and off, and I’m going to pick up Marian and Marge. Then tonight we are going to drive over to the firing range, after work, and watch them for a while.
Sorry Hon, but I told you that is located Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington. Oh yes, Dad wrote you a letter a few minutes ago.
Well Honey, I guess this is all for now except this, maybe you didn’t get it before but when you address my letters put the number 10 after Des Moines like this…….N. Hare
1809 – 27th Street
Des Moines 10, Iowa
That’s our postal district number, now don’t forget.
Gotta go now as it’s getting rather late. I love you very much and three weeks from tonight I am a coming., Bye for now.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your’ Darlin’ & F.W. Janie
PS Don’t worry and be my good 1-A
June 20, 1943
My Dear Harlan – Thanks for the Father’s Day card – very nice of you to think of me. I had cards from Dick, Chuck, Jane and Mary Jane, beside yours so am doing fine.
Was glad to read your letter also and see where you are sure doing a fine job, both as to your work and also as to see where you have laid out plans, as far as you can as to the future. When a fellow has a aim or objective to work for, something worthwhile, and stays on the tram, then is when his work is interesting and easy – and it is a wonderful feeling, when the time comes, the objective is conquered – then another set plan can be made.
We are about the same as usual, Jane is working hard and looking forward to going out were you are – has for ticket spoke for an guess she has her war wardrobe about ready – just see she has a nice place to stay, and we know she will be well taken care of while out there.
Mrs. Hare, is getting as much of a kick out of her getting ready as Jane is, so two people are busy.
At present, I am here in Des Moines, as we went off the road June 12th – due to a shortage of material, the factory can’t ship goods as fast as sales are made. However my sales are a little ahead of last year, so feel quite pleased with the results so far. However it may get where conditions will be not so good from now on – then can’t just be helpful, as work conditions are more important than people painting their homes.
Dick, I suppose is on the high seas and guess he was glad to get away – he is going to see plenty, and barr great experiences, and is one fellow who will get a kick out of work.
Charles is in the Puget Sound Navy Yard, where he is following the same schooling as Dick. Will have a couple more months, then on it will be a case of waiting. He is like Dick, is having lots of sights and seeing plenty.
I suppose you are just ‘treading time’, as to the armed forces, waiting for Uncle Sam to decide what he wants you to do – guess all you can do is sit tight until he settles his mind.
Well Harlan, just do the best you can as you are now doing and you will come out on top.
With Kindred regards.
I am L. Frank Hare
Johnny & Jane 